NSR checks in with soccer athlete Thomas Leech (Football NSW), to talk about his introduction to SUNY Jefferson College, New York.
Thomas discusses the positive experience that he has encountered while fitting into the college lifestyle. Thomas talks about his moving process, stating that is was done with great ease due to the idea that there were a number of people there to help. Thomas goes on to advise those looking to attend college in the US in the near future not to worry about settling in as there is a wealth of people to ensure that you are settling in.
As for living in a dorm, Thomas says that the college has paired him with a roommate with similar interests to him, making it easy to maintain a good friendship. Thriving in an independent lifestyle, Thomas tells of how he’s always learning something new about his own abilities and growing independence “you learn a lot about yourself, but in a good way”. There is often a negative stigma attached to the idea of leaving home; however, college is a great practice to living outside of the home. If mistakes are made, there is a net of support at the college to ensure that students remain focused on their studies.
Thomas goes on to talking about how easy he found it to make friends. Being a part of the soccer team, becomes the first opportunity to make friends with those in your team. Partaking in college classes allows for another opportunity to form lasting friendships with classmates. Living on campus allows one to fully engage in the college lifestyle. Leech finds it a challenge to maintain focus on his college studies as there are so many college activities available. During the semester, Leech has learnt to manage his time efficiently to balance his sporting/study commitment with the social aspect of college.
To shed some light on the big question of whether college movies accurately reflect what life is really like over in the US, Leech describes his experience “…yes and no, there are no frat houses at my university, but it’s a laid back, fun lifestyle…there are a lot of different social groups…”
Each college has its particular niche, whether it is sporting achievements, academia or social events.
Thomas has enjoyed his college experience thus far and is looking forward to what his life in the US has in store for him in the future. We wish Thomas the best of luck with his schooling and soccer goals and look forward to checking back in with this young athlete in the near future!